Otago scrape home in slug-out

By CHRIS RATTUE

OTAGO 6 AUCKLAND 3

A slug-out. Or maybe just sluggish is a better description.

The NPC kicked off with a whimper at Carisbrook last night as the TAB's NPC favourites, Otago, edged out champions Auckland by a slender three points.

The scoreline from yesteryear was fitting for a match that was about as entertaining as some of those olden day games played out in mud heaps.

While Otago took the competition points, it was a moral victory of sorts for Auckland who went to Carisbrook without a stack of test players and a scrum which was expected to come under all sorts of pressure, and came away with a bonus point.

The scrum certainly wobbled, but the famed Auckland defence didn't.

An off-night for goalkicker Willie Walker piled the pressure on to Otago. He landed just two out of five penalty attempts which meant Otago could not get a points cushion which might have brought some spark and breadth to their game.

They almost seem shackled by their favourites tag and the knowledge that that Auckland were under-manned.

The match was scoreless in the second half as Otago held all the advantages but never seriously threatening to score. Auckland second five-eighths Sam Tuitupou made the one clean break of the half, from which Auckland should have scored. It only served to highlight the lack of imagination from a home side enjoying the better of possession and territory.

Auckland had a chance to draw level in the 72nd minute but Brent Ward slipped as he took a long penalty shot, and the ball turned into a low-flying missile.

In the most exciting stanza of the match, Auckland threw a late attack at Otago after a bizarre moment from first five-eighths Tony Brown.

With Otago hot on attack, Brown received set piece possession and chipped the ball into touch in a manner normally reserved for after the final hooter.

Yet there was still enough time for one play and Auckland piled up field, finally losing the ball in a ruck.

Otago led 6-3 after a stodgy first half. The greasy conditions did not help and both sides preferring to kick the ball rather than risk passing it.

Otago's frustrations were summed up when Brown attempted a long drop goal after another failed attack, although his attempt did at least lead to a penalty from which Walker goaled.fusixpoint

Otago 6 (W. Walker 2 pen), Auckland 3 (B. Ward pen). Halftime: 6 - 3.